vROPS 8.x: Configuring vSphere Solution Cloud Account

In this post we will see, what is cloud account in vROPS and how to setup cloud account for vSphere solution.

The vSphere solution allows vROPS to connect to one or more vCenter Server instances. This is pretty much the starting point when configuring vROPS installation to collect data. Once connected to vCenter Server instance, vROPS collects data and metrics from those instances with default polling interval of 5 minutes, analyse collected data, and run actions.

The vSphere solution is installed along with vROPS and activated by default. However, vSphere solution requires the vCenter Server adapter to be configured to connect vROPS to vCenter Server instances. For connection, we also require credentials to be configured in vROPS. We can add credentials in advance from Administration page or we can add at the time of configuring vSphere solution. In this demonstration, I will add credentials at the time of configuring cloud account for vSphere solution.

In previous versions such as vROPS 7.5, we could configure vSphere Solution from Administration page.

In vROPS 8.x, the process is little different. In order to configure vSphere solution and manage vCenter Server instances in vROPS, we must configure a cloud account for each vCenter Server instance. The cloud account also requires the credentials for communication with the target vCenter Server. Note that cloud account credentials are shared with other cloud account administrators and vROPS collector hosts. Other administrators can use these credentials to configure a new cloud account or to move a cloud account to a new host.

We can add cloud account from Home screen quick link as shown below. Which takes us to cloud accounts page to add the cloud account.

Or we can add cloud account from administration page as shown below. Click Add accounts link.

There are multiple types of Cloud Accounts available in vROPS as shown in below image. Additional types can be added by installing management packs and activating them. I will select vCenter as Account type for this demo to proceed.

On the next screen, provide details such as Name and target vCenter Server and click + symbol to add credentials for connecting vCenter Server instance.